Simon couldn’t sleep. Something on those scans was prickling at him, and he knew he wasn't going to get any rest until he’d analysed them.

“Honey, where are you going?” Kaylee asked, her sleepy head raised, staring at her husband as he pulled on a pair of loose pants.

“Go back to sleep, bao bei ,” Simon urged. “I just need to check something.”

“Bethie?”

“No. She’s fine. And fast asleep, like you should be.”

“So should you.” She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “What time is it?”

“Early. Go back to sleep.”

“Can’t whatever it is wait a few hours?”

An odd feeling crept up Simon’s spine. “Not sure.”

“Okay.” Kaylee sighed and pushed back the covers. “Do you want some coffee? ‘Cause I can make –“

“I want you rested. Your family isn’t intending today to be an anticlimax.”

She giggled sleepily. “No, I think you’re right, there.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed, pressing the sheet back into place around her. “Now, please, close your eyes. Just for a little while.”

“’Kay.” She lay back. “I’d fall asleep quicker if you were next to me, though.”

“Then you’d never fall asleep at all, and I wouldn’t be able to go and do what I have to.”

She laughed again, but it died away as sleep regained its hold.

He leaned forward, brushing a lock of hair from her forehead, and softly kissed her. She gave a little sigh of pleasure and smiled, but didn’t wake.

Grabbing a light sweater, he tugged it over his head, running his fingers through his hair. Time to go to work.

---

As the sun came up, random activity began to occur outside the Frye house. Some of the family who lived close enough had gone home, but a large number had merely settled themselves down on the ground around the fires, chatting and dozing, until the morning. Now the fires were fed, and people began to prepare breakfast. The smell of fresh coffee wafted across the open area.

In the captain’s bunk back on Serenity, Mal and Freya were lying in each other’s arms.

“Odd day ye